Monday, July 25, 2011

Will Nouri finally name a Minister of Defence

John Martin (Courier Press) has one of the most important reports of the week but watch most ignore it. He's writing of the 76th Brigade of the Indiana National Guard and "a Notification of Sourcing" -- what Lt Col Mark Weaver says is "the first step on the road" to official mobilization. And what were they notified of? From the article:

"National Guard members from Evansville and throughout Indiana are preparing for possible deployment next year, four years since returning from Iraq.

[. . .]

"Indiana National Guard officials were told that the next deployment, if it occurs, also would be in Iraq and would be part of Operation New Dawn. "

They're awaiting 2012 orders that, if they come in, would mean deployment to Iraq in 2012. Which would be after -- pay attention -- the media and Barack have said US troops would be out of Iraq -- have said that repeatedly for the last three years.

AP notes the development today. Will anyone else? Most likely not. I think too many are still vested in pretending Barack Obama ended the Iraq War.

Now it all begins

Or continues to

Spiral down

Spiral down

Look upon the self

Look upon the other

We need a better understanding

Or we'll spiral down

Spiral down

Continue to spiral down

I'm no where near my peace

As you spiral down

-- "Spiral Down" written by Michael Timmins, recorded by the Cowboy Junkies on their album at the end of paths taken

If you've never heard the song, click here and you've got about 30 seconds of Cowboy Junkies performing it live. April e-mailed to say that she couldn't find a video of it on YouTube which surprised me because it's probably the finest recording the group has ever done (and, yes, I am including their amazing cover of "Sweet Jane" in that survey).Mohammed Tawfeeq and Chelsea J. Carter (CNN) note that Jalal Talabani's promise that a decision would be reached no later than Saturday on the US military remaining in Iraq or not after 2011 was not kept. They add, "Talabani's office declined a CNN request for comment. Al-Maliki's office referred questions to Talabani."

Meanwhile Iraq's security ministries remain without leadership. The Ministry of the Interior, the Ministy of National Security and the Ministry of Defense should have had a minister named to each back in December. Nouri failed to do so. He has continued to fail at that basic -- and Constitutionally mandated -- task. Aswat al-Iraq reports on what may be an attempt to force Nouri's hand. Tareq al-Hashemi is Iraq's Sunni vice president. He is also a member of Iraqiya. And he is stating that if Iraqiya pushes him for Minister of Defense, he will accept the post. State of Law's Sami al-Askary is in a panic:

As regards to the position of Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki and his State of Law Coalition towards the said topic, Askary said that “through previous experiences, it is difficult to reach an understanding between Maliki and Hashimy for clear reasons,” adding: “I don’t think that this process would succeed.”“The motive behind Hashimy’s nomination for the Defense Minister’s post is to put Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, in an embarrassing position.” Askary stated.

Nouri's failed to address the security ministries and he's failed to address many things. Among the issues fueling the protests in Iraq is the lack of jobs. Last week, IRIN noted, "A just released national youth survey in Iraq says youth unemployment is running at over 20 percent and many young people are thinking of emigrating. Up to 23 percent of males and 21 percent of females aged 15-24 are unemployed, according to a 2009 National Youth Survey by the government and the UN Population Fund (released on 16 July). Of these, 33 percent intend to go abroad in search of work, it said." Unemployment, corruption, Political Stalemate II, lack of basic services, secret prisons, Iraq is a failed state. Created by occupying forces, the country remains a failed state and continuing the war and occupation will not change that anymore than all the talk of 'turned corner' repeatedly over the last eight years ever resulted in actual progess.

Aswat al-Iraq reports, " An explosive charge blew off against a U.S. Army patrol in southern Iraq’s City of Basra on Sunday night, but losses were not known, whilst police forces arrested six wanted men, One of them wanted for terrorist acts, a Basra police source reported on Monday." In addition, they note, "An Iraqi soldier has been injured in an explosive charge blast west of Mosul, the center of Ninewa Province, on Monday, a Ninewa security source reported."

About Me

We do not open attachments. Stop e-mailing them. Threats and abusive e-mail are not covered by any privacy rule. This isn't to the reporters at a certain paper (keep 'em coming, they are funny). This is for the likes of failed comics who think they can threaten via e-mails and then whine, "E-mails are supposed to be private." E-mail threats will be turned over to the FBI and they will be noted here with the names and anything I feel like quoting.
This also applies to anyone writing to complain about a friend of mine. That's not why the public account exists.